John Ingle, who
played Mickey Horton on "Days of Our Lives" from 2004-2006, has passed away.
Ingle died, surrounded by his family in California, after a courageous battle
with cancer on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at the age of 84. Ingle's most famous
role was as Edward Quartermaine on "General Hospital", a role he portrayed from
1993-2003 and again from 2006 until his death. Ingle
was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 7, 1928, the son of John and Myrtle Ingle. He
graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles and was in the Navy from
1951-1955. He then began subbing and soon a job opened up at Hollywood High
School, where he became the school's drama director in the winter of 1955. He
would later go on to teach English and theater, first at Hollywood, and later at
Beverly Hills High School, for thirty years, from 1955-1985. Some of the actors
that Ingle taught include Louise Sorel, Mike Farrell, Swoosie Kurtz, Stefanie
Powers, Linda Evans, Nicolas Cage, Richard Dreyfuss and David Schwimmer. Louise
Sorel (Vivian Alamain), in a Soap Opera Digest interview from 2000, had this to
say about John: "I can't say enough about that man. He felt that you could do
whatever you wanted to do. I couldn't wait to get to school to see what he had
to say...just be in the room because of his energy. He was very supportive, but
he never intimidated you. He simply demanded the best." Ingle concurred and
said: "I took no crap. Anyone you ask, I think they'll say that I was pretty
tough. I didn't believe in being a dilettante...but nothing is acceptable short
of excellence." In a 1995 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Swoosie Kurtz
remarked: "John Ingle is the reason I became an actress. He was one of the great
teachers. He taught me about energy...performance energy, the energy needed to
walk across a stage. He will always have a special place in my
heart."A Soap Opera Weekly
interview from 1995 states that, in 1983, as he was getting ready to retire from
teaching, Ingle encountered an old college friend, Guy Steiner, who was now an
agent. Steiner convinced Ingle that he had both the talent and the courage to
seek acting jobs. Early in his acting career, Ingle said that "I was the king of
the day players, the prince of the under-fives. My resume is loaded with guest
spots." Besides his roles on "Days" and "General Hospital", Ingle also appeared
on such series as "Who's the Boss?", "Newhart", "The Facts of Life", "Highway to
Heaven", "Cheers", "Family Ties", "ALF", "Coach", "The Golden Girls", "Beverly
Hills, 90210", "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." He also appeared in
several movies, including "Heathers", "Robocop 2", "Death Becomes Her", and
"Batman & Robin." Ingle was nominated for two Soap Opera Digest Awards, and
won the award in 1998 for male scene stealer. Frank Valenti, executive producer of
"General Hospital", released this statement on Twitter: "With great sadness, I
share the news of John Ingle's passing. We love him and will miss him. John will
always be a part of the #GH family." Ingle's family released this statement on
Facebook: "Father, Husband, Grandan, Great Grandan, Brother, Uncle, Friend,
Teacher, Inspirer, Mentor: May You Soar with the Angels. You will forever hold a
special place in the deepest corners of our hearts." In 1954, Ingle married Grace-Lynn Martin.
They remained married until her death earlier this year. Ingle is survived by
five daughters: twins Jennifer and Jessica, Carey, Melanie and Christin; and
many grandchildren.

John
poses with his family in 1995.From left: Jessica, Jennifer, wife Grace-Lynn,
Carey, Melanie and Chrissie, and grandson Hank